Gas leak on Stow Street in Kent caused by utility workers drilling to install new pole

Thursday

Feb 21, 2013 at 4:00 AM

By Dave O'Brien | staff writer

Stow Street in Kent was closed Wednesday after a First Energy crew struck an 8-inch natural gas line while drilling to install a new utility pole.

Kent Fire Capt. John Tosko said firefighters responded to the call, which came in at 1:37 p.m. Wednesday. He said the First Energy workers called Dominion East Ohio gas, which also responded to fix the leak.

No one was injured, Tosko said.

Kent police and the city service department also responded, and Stow Street was closed from Haymaker Parkway to Mogadore Road, Tosko said. Firefighters informed area residents, checked basements for gas leaks and Dominion workers probed around the leak to make sure gas didn't infiltrate into the ground.

Tosko said he was told the utilities did not expect any interruption in gas service.

"The biggest concern was that they were not able to isolate that section of line without shutting off service" to the West River neighborhood, he said.

Tosko said the road should be open by this morning, but the final decision would be made by Dominion East Ohio. Representatives of Dominion East Ohio could not be reached for comment by press time.

Contact this reporter at 330-298-1128 or dobrien@recordpub.com

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